Another Priest Attacked, This Time in Belgium, But “It’s Not Terrorism”

The Belgian newspaper, Het Nieuwsblad, reported that on Sunday afternoon, an “asylum seeker” stabbed Father Jos Vanderlee in his own home in Lanaken, Belgium. The man knocked on his door and asked to use his shower. After letting him in and clean himself, the asylum seeker asked Vanderlee for money. Vanderlee refused. In response he was stabbed in his hands and tendons. The suspect was reportedly seeking to gain asylum in The Netherlands roughly two miles from where Vanderlee lives.

Father Vanderlee was rushed to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Well known in the community, Vanderlee has served eight parishes for 40 years.

The attacker fled the scene and Belgian authorities are “investigating” what happened but emphasized that “the incident can’t be linked to terrorism at this stage.”

Lanaken’s mayor, Marino Keulen, said, “Despite the fact that we are shocked, we must stress that this incident can not be linked to terrorist acts at this stage of the investigation.”

It’s not a coincidence that Vanderlee was attacked. His assault comes only days after a French priest, Jacques Hamel, had his throat slit by men who pledged allegiance to ISIS.

Bethany Blankley is a political analyst for Fox News Radio and has appeared on television and radio programs nationwide. She writes about political, cultural, and religious issues in America from the perspective of an evangelical and former communications staffer. She was a communications strategist for four U.S. Senators, one U.S. Congressman, a former New York governor, and several non-profits. She earned her MA in Theology from The University of Edinburgh, Scotland and her BA in Political Science from the University of Maryland. Follow her @bethanyblankley facebook.com/BlankleyBethany/ & BethanyBlankley.com.